Apparatus for reinforcing ground with fiberous additives

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supplying reinforcing additive to a ground by being connected to a mobile vehicle including a chamber to store the reinforcing additive, wherein the chamber includes an outlet to let the stored additive reach the ground for reinforcement; a connecting element to connect the apparatus to the vehicle; a cover for adjusting the additive amount leaving the chamber through the outlet by adjusting the opening of the outlet; a movement element in connection with the cover and moving the cover to adjust the opening of the outlet; a vibrating element provided on a surface of the chamber, vibrating the surface when energized to direct the additive towards the outlet; and a power source in connection with the movement element and vibrating element, providing energy to these elements to perform their operations according to the demand of the related application.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the national phase entry of InternationalApplication No. PCT/TR2017/050066, filed on Feb. 20, 2017, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to an apparatus configured forspreading fibrous additives to ground for reinforcement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For bearing against much higher loads, ground should be reinforced withsome additives especially in civil engineering field. For instance, inorder to build much more safer high rise on a ground or to increase thestrength and durability of roads with respect to heavily loadedvehicles, the related ground should be strengthened with some additives.Furthermore, facility structures in industry cover a large area ofground and thus, the heavy, rigid mass of the structure and the movementand vibration created by the heavy vehicles moving in the facilitygenerate vertical loads negatively affecting the ground. More clearly,if the ground does not have proper strength characteristic, thesevertical loads cannot be borne by the ground and the structure cannot besupported by the ground, which can result in the structure being damagedor even being demolished. In order to avoid such problems, the ground onwhich a construction process is carried out should be reinforced withsome kind of additives such as fibres. The main idea of thereinforcement is to lower (eliminate as much as possible) the amount ofgaps present in 25 the ground, since these gaps loosen the ground anddecrease the strength of the ground. For that reason, the ground ismixed with some additives (especially fibre based additives) and in thismanner these additives fill the gaps that are present in the ground andcause decrease in the strength of the ground.

In order to fill the gaps with additives, the additive is spread ontothe ground with an apparatus. An exemplary embodiment of anapparatus/device, configured to spread an additive onto the ground, isgiven in the published patent application no WO2005124035A1. In thisdocument, the developed device comprises a sandy soil supply devicecarrying the sandy soil to the reinforced earth preparing place; a fibersupply device for storing, therein, a reel for the fibers twined in thesandy soil; an injection nozzle jetting the fibers continuouslydelivered from the fiber supply device by utilizing high-pressure wateror compressed air; feed rollers having the fibers wound therearound orholding the fibers therebetween to forcibly feed out the fibers. Thefeed rollers are installed between the fiber supply device and theinjection nozzle and interlocked with the fiber supply device to controlthe rotation of the feed rollers. However, the device described in thisdocument is a complex device and can be costly for simple applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, an apparatus suitable for supplyingreinforcing additive to ground by being connected to a mobile vehicle isdisclosed, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one chamber in whichthe reinforcing additive is stored and which comprise at least oneoutlet in order to allow the stored additive to reach to the ground forreinforcement; at least one connecting element to connect the apparatusto the vehicle; at least one cover configured for adjusting the additiveamount leaving the chamber through the outlet by adjusting the openingof the outlet, the cover having open positions with variable widths forthe outlet so as to let the reinforcing additive leave the chamber, anda close position for preventing the reinforcing additive from leavingthe chamber; at least one movement element in connection with the coverand moving the cover so as to adjust the opening of the outlet; at leastone vibrating element provided on at least one surface of the chamber,vibrating the surface when energized in order to direct the reinforcingadditive in the chamber towards the outlet for letting the sufficientamount of the additive leave the chamber through the outlet to meet thedemand required for reinforcing the ground for the related application;and at least one power source in connection with the movement elementand vibrating element, providing energy to these elements to performtheir operations according to the demand of the related application.

According to the apparatus developed by the present invention, areinforcing additive can be stored and homogenously spread to ground bydosing according to demand, independently of particle size and materialproperty of the additive. Furthermore, since the apparatus of theinvention is able to be used mobile, laying the reinforcing additive tothe ground homogenously is able to be ensured by means of dosingaccording to demand for spreading reinforcing additive to ground. Inaddition, the use of vibrating element and cover for dispensing anddosing of the additive allows to spread and lay fibrous reinforcingadditive to ground with a mobile apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for storing andhomogenously spreading a reinforcing additive to ground by dosing inaccordance with the demand.

The other object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forspreading reinforcing additive independently of particle size andmaterial property of the additive.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is notonly mobile but also ensures dosing according to demand for spreadingreinforcing additive to the ground.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mobile apparatus forspreading fibrous reinforcing additive to the ground.

The other object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forspreading fibrous reinforcing additive to the ground by dosing inaccordance with the demand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1; is a side sectional view of the apparatus developed by thepresent invention.

FIG. 2; is a back sectional view of the apparatus developed by thepresent invention.

All the parts illustrated in the drawings are individually assigned areference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers arelisted as follows:

-   -   Vehicle (A)    -   Chamber (H)    -   Inclined surface (H1)    -   Outlet (H2)    -   Cover (K)    -   Movement element (M)    -   Vibrating element (D)    -   Mixing system (S)    -   Shaft (S1)    -   Bar (S2)    -   Rotating element (S3)    -   Supporting base (S4)    -   Frame (F)    -   Connecting element (B)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For various civil engineering applications such as construction of abuilding or a road, the main step to make the construction durable andlong-lasting is the reinforcement of the ground, because the ground isthe place where the foundation of the construction is laid and thereforethe place which bears the construction. In order to manage this, variousadditives are spread, laid and/or mixed with the ground to fill the gapsin the ground. For this purpose, various apparatuses are used in thestate of the art. In order to perform the spreading and layingfunctions, the apparatus should be mobile. However, since fibrousadditives can fly easily and have flocculation tendency, the mobileapparatuses have drawbacks in using fibrous additives for reinforcingground. For that reason, by the present invention, an apparatuseliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks is developed, which is able tobe used mobile and which is also configured especially for 25 fibrousreinforcing additives.

The apparatus of the present invention, exemplary view of which is shownin the FIGS. 1 and 2, is suitable for supplying at least one reinforcingadditive (especially fibrous reinforcing additive) to a ground forespecially civil engineering applications (such as construction of aroad, construction of a building etc.) by being connected to a mobilevehicle (A) and it comprises at least one chamber (H) in which thereinforcing additive (preferably fibrous) is stored and which comprisesat least one outlet (H2) in order to let the stored additive reach theground for reinforcement (during this, the additive can be spread to,laid on and/or mixed with the ground depending on the demand), and atleast one connecting element (B) to connect the apparatus to the vehicle(A). The apparatus further comprises at least one cover (K) configuredfor adjusting the additive amount leaving the chamber (H) through theoutlet (H2) by adjusting the opening of the outlet (H2), the cover (K)having open positions with variable widths for the outlet (H2) so as tolet the reinforcing additive leave the chamber (H), and a close positionfor preventing the reinforcing additive from leaving the chamber (H); atleast one movement element (M) (preferably in the form of a piston) inconnection with the cover (K) and moving the cover (K) so as to adjustthe opening of the outlet (H2); at least one vibrating element (D)provided on at least one surface of the chamber (H) (preferably on theouter surface of the chamber (H)), vibrating the surface when energizedin order to direct the reinforcing additive in the chamber (H) towardsthe outlet (H2) for letting the sufficient amount of the additive leavethe chamber (H) through the outlet (H2) to meet the demand required forreinforcing the ground for the related application; and at least onepower source (not shown in the figures), such as a generator or astorage battery, in connection with the movement element (M) andvibrating element (D), providing energy to these elements to performtheir operations according to the demand of the related application.Preferably the apparatus comprises at least one sensor (not shown infigures) for sensing the ambience conditions (such as movement speed ofthe vehicle (A), air conditions on the area where the application willtake place etc.) and at least one control unit in connection with thesensor and the movement element (M). Therefore, besides manual controlof the movement element (M), automatic control of the movement element(M) with respect to the conditions is also ensured and thus,auto-adjustment of the opening depth of the cover (K) with respect tothe variable conditions can be ensured.

In the exemplary operation of the invention, the reinforcing additive isstored in the chamber (H) of the apparatus and the apparatus isconnected to the vehicle (A) by means of the connecting element (B).Then the apparatus is moved by movement of the mobile vehicle (A) on theground to be reinforced. By the movement, the vibrating element (D) andthe movement element (M) are energized via the power source. Byenergizing the vibrating element (D), the surface on which the vibratingelement (D) is provided starts to vibrate and thanks to this vibration,the reinforcing additive is gradually directed towards the outlet (H2)provided preferably on the base of the chamber (H). By energizing themovement element (M), the cover (K) brought to the open position uponsufficiently opening the outlet (H2) required for the application byconsidering the conditions under which the application will take place.By virtue of limiting the opening width of the outlet (H2) with respectto the conditions such as movement speed of the vehicle (A), airconditions on the area where the application will take place etc., thereinforcing additive is able to be supplied with sufficient amount andtherefore, use of the fibrous reinforcing additive with a mobile vehicle(A) is able to be performed. Although the fibrous reinforcing additivecan easily fly, by decreasing or increasing the opening width of theoutlet (H2) with respect to the vehicle (A) speed, for instance, withthe help of the vibration, supply of the sufficient amount to the groundis able to be ensured. Therefore, an apparatus which can be used forreinforcing the ground with fibrous additives via a mobile vehicle (A)is developed with the present invention.

Furthermore, homogenous spread of the additive is able to be ensuredthanks to the structure of the apparatus. Since the parts of theapparatus are energized by means of a power source provided on theapparatus, the apparatus is able to be operated with a mobile vehicle(A). In addition, with the developed apparatus, spreading fibrousreinforcing additive to the ground by dosing according to demand can beensured.

In a preferable embodiment of the invention, the apparatus furthercomprises at least one inclined surface (H1), one end of which is inconnection with the outlet (H2) and on which the vibrating element (D)is provided. Thanks to this inclined surface (H1), the reinforcedadditive is directed to the outlet easily and therefore the vibratingelement (D) performs its function more efficiently. Therefore, properdosing of the reinforcing additive to the ground is able to be ensured.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention, the chamber (H) of theapparatus is in the form of a hopper, and the outlet (H2) is provided onthe base of the hopper shaped chamber (H). Therefore, the reinforcingadditive can be effectively directed to the outlet (H2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus furthercomprises at least one mixing system (S) provided in the chamber (H) formixing the reinforcing additive so as to let the additive leave thechamber (H) homogenously through the outlet (H2). According to thisembodiment, the mixing system (S) preferably comprises at least oneshaft (S1) which is able to rotate around its own axis and which extendsin the chamber (H) in such a way that it is parallel to the plane inwhich the outlet is present and preferably perpendicular to the movementdirection of the apparatus; and one or more bar(s) (S2) provided in thechamber (H) in connection with the shaft (S1) in such a way that onepart (preferably end) of the bar(s) (S2) is/are connected to the shaft(S1) and the other part (preferably end) of the bar(s) (S2) is/are freein the chamber (H). In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, themixing system (S) comprises a plurality of bars (S2), forming pairs insuch a way that two bars (S2) forming a pair are bilaterally connectedto the shaft (S1) by providing an angle (preferably wide angle,especially straight angle) therebetween. The shaft (S1) of the mixingsystem (S) is able to rotate by means of at least one rotating element(S3), comprised by the apparatus of the present invention and inconnection with the shaft (S1). Preferably one end of the shaft (S1)extends from the chamber (H) outwardly and is connected to the rotatingelement (S3). The rotating element (S3) is preferably in connection withthe power source in order for being energized to rotate the shaft (S).The apparatus of this embodiment further comprises at least onesupporting base (S4) which is in connection with the chamber, and onwhich the rotating element (S3) is provided. Therefore, the load of therotating element (S3) is shared by the chamber (H) and the supportingbase (S4) and more durable apparatus can be obtained by the presentinvention.

In the other preferable embodiment of the present invention, theapparatus comprises at least one frame (F) to which the chamber (H), theconnecting element (B) and the movement element (M) are connected.Therefore, a compact structure is obtained and mobility of the apparatusis ensured easily and more reliably. In this embodiment, preferably, thesupporting base (S4) is also connected to the frame (F).

Preferably, cover (K) of the apparatus provided by the present inventionis connected to the chamber (H) in such a way that the cover (K) is ableto rotate around an axis while moving between open and closed positions.In this embodiment the rotation axis of the cover (K) is provided suchthat in the open position, cover (K) is provided between outlet (H2) andthe vehicle (A). In other words, the cover (K) rotates such that the aircirculation occurring due to the movement of the apparatus is preventedfrom being directly in contact with the reinforcing additive leaving thechamber (H) through the outlet (H2) while the cover (K) is in openposition. Therefore, not only proper dosing of the additive is able tobe ensured without being affected from the conditions under which theapplication is to take place but also use of fibrous reinforcingadditives with mobile apparatus is ensured.

According to the apparatus developed by the present invention, areinforcing additive can be stored and homogenously spread to ground bydosing according to demand independently of particle size and materialproperty of the additive. Furthermore, since the apparatus of theinvention is able to be used mobile, laying the reinforcing additive tothe ground homogenously is able to be ensured by dosing according todemand for spreading reinforcing additive to ground. In addition, theuse of vibrating element (D) and cover (K) for dispensing and dosing ofthe additive allows to spread and lay fibrous reinforcing additive toground with a mobile apparatus.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus suitable for supplying a reinforcing additiveto a ground by being connected to a mobile vehicle, comprising: at leastone chamber storing the reinforcing additive wherein the at least onechamber includes at least one outlet to let the stored reinforcingadditive reach the ground for reinforcement; at least one connectingelement to connect the apparatus to the mobile vehicle; at least onecover configured for adjusting an amount of the reinforcing additiveleaving the chamber through the outlet by adjusting an opening of theoutlet, the cover having open positions with variable widths for theoutlet so as to let the reinforcing additive leave the chamber, and aclose position for preventing the reinforcing additive from leaving thechamber; at least one movement element in connection with the cover andconfigured for moving the cover so as to adjust the opening of theoutlet; at least one vibrating element provided on at least one surfaceof the chamber, wherein the vibrating element vibrates the surface whenenergized in order to direct the reinforcing additive in the chambertowards the outlet for letting a sufficient amount of the reinforcingadditive leave the chamber through the outlet to meet a demand requiredfor reinforcing the ground for a related application and at least onepower source in connection with the movement element and vibratingelement, wherein the power source provides energy to the movementelement and the vibrating element to perform operations according to thedemand of the related application.
 2. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the movement element is a piston.
 3. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the vibrating element is provided on an outersurface of the chamber.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe outlet is provided on a base of the chamber.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes at leastone inclined surface, wherein one end of the at least one inclinedsurface is in connection with the outlet and the vibrating element isprovided on the at least one inclined surface.
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the chamber of the apparatus is in theform of a hopper.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one mixing system provided in the chamber for mixingthe reinforcing additive to let the reinforcing additive leave thechamber homogenously through the outlet.
 8. The apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein the mixing system comprises at least one shaftconfigured to rotate around its own axis and the at least one shaftextends in the chamber in such a way that it is parallel to a plane inwhich the outlet is present, and at least one bar provided in thechamber in connection with the shaft in such a way that one part of theat least one bar is connected to the shaft and an other part of the atleast one bar is free in the chamber.
 9. The apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein the shaft is perpendicular to a movement direction ofthe apparatus.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein themixing system comprises a plurality of bars forming pairs in such a waythat two bars forming a pair are bilaterally connected to the shaft byproviding an angle therebetween.
 11. The apparatus according to claim10, wherein the angle is an obtuse angle.
 12. The apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein the angle is straight angle.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, further comprising at least one rotating elementin connection with the shaft and ensuring the rotation of the shaft. 14.The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein one end of the shaftextends from the chamber outwardly and is connected to the rotatingelement.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the rotatingelement is in connection with the power source in order for beingenergized to rotate the shaft.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 13,further comprising at least one supporting base in connection with thechamber, on which the rotating element is provided.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising at least one frame, wherein thechamber, the connecting element and the movement element are connectedto the at least one frame.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17,wherein the supporting base is also connected to the frame.
 19. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is connected to thechamber in such a way that the cover rotates around an axis while movingbetween an open and a close position.
 20. The apparatus according toclaim 19, wherein the rotation axis of the cover is provided such thatin the open position, cover is provided between the outlet and thevehicle.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising atleast one sensor for sensing conditions and at least one control unit inconnection with the sensor and the movement element for auto-adjustingof an opening depth of the cover with respect to the conditions.